Subordinate to the Barony of Castle Combe. 283 



From 1462 to 1516, the Castle Combe Rolls record John Ferers as 

 mesne lord of Blunsdon. In 1523, " the tenants late of Ferers" 

 are sued. In 1525, it had passed to Giles Briggs, and on his death, 

 in that year, to Sir John Briggs, who held it in 1547, with two 

 carucates of land in fee-farm at a quit-rent. 



21. Grendewelle. — Held temp. Domesday by Hugo and Giraldus. 

 This is the Manor and Farm of Groundwell, near Blunsdon. Temp. 

 Henry III., James de Groundwell held half a knight's fee of 

 Walter de Dunstanville in Groundwell, and Richard de Dantesey 

 held half a fee of the same, {Lib. Feod.) In 1340, the Partition 

 Roll mentions it as held by Walter Groundwell, and worth 21. 6s. 8^. 

 yearly. This fee was assigned to the Earl and Countess of North- 

 ampton. The manor was in the hands of Richard Gosye in 1367, 

 of Thomas Whyteman, 1392-1404. In 1437, on the death of John 

 Groundwell, munture was claimed. In 1442, one hundred shillings 

 were demanded as relief for admission of " Thomas Wyke, son and 

 heir of John Groundwell" and fifty shillings were paid. In 1475, 

 this Thomas Wyke still held it. In 1523, it had passed to John 

 Giffard, Esquire, and William Kembyll. In 1547, to James 

 Kembill. In 1573, William Kembyll was sued "for the lands late 

 Wyke's." 



22. Schetone. — Held temp. Domesday by Robertus. I believe this 

 to be the Manor-farm of Chadington, adjoining Salthrop. Temp. 

 Henry III., William de Burdenhill held half a knight's fee of 



was Sir Humphrey Stafford, of Hooke, in Dorsetshire. His mother, it is said, 

 was the daughter and heiress of Sir John Mautravers of Hooke. The Arch- 

 bishop erected what must have been a very handsome chantry chapel, still 

 existing, but much dilapidated, on the north side of the nave of North Bradley 

 church, as a monument to his mother "Emma." Aubrey mentions the Stafford 

 and Hungerford coats as visible upon the tomb in his time. The inscription 

 still remains. 



I have not ascertained how the Archbishop became possessed of the Manor 

 of Blunsdon upon the decease of the widow of Robert Andrews in 1442. But 

 as in the Nomina Villarum (1316), the Manor of Blunsdon is said to belong 

 in chief to Lord Badlesmere and John Mautravers, jointly, it is probable 

 that he derived his interest through his mother, as heiress of a branch of the 

 latter family. 



